Commentary track (Cox, Carpenter, Frayling)

[Bill Carson]

When I watched the “commentary track“ I was wery surprised whit the ignorance and lack of ability to observe the obvious things that some “film workers“ and “experts“ show to us through their comments.

I can`t believe that Alex Cox was confused about Morton – Frank and Frank – Jill cave scene (about this we allready talked in some other thread). In the „buchered“ version that scene is very short so I could understand that someone could be confused about it (expecially when watching the film for the first time), but in “full“ version that scene is few minutes long and it is obvious that the bed don`t have curtains and lace decorations and that the bad is hanging from the ceiling. Beside that, Morton says:“I know the woman is HERE“, and Bronson and Robards at Sweet water start to build the station and Robards says:“I know that it wouldn`t be much, but it`s going to be the first thing that she is going to se when she gets back“, and Bronson adds:“If she gets back“. So there is no confusion.

Then I couldn`t believe what John Carpenter said. He was commenting the scene in saloon in which Frank trys to buy the land from Harmonica for $ 5.001. Carpenter was watching the scene and in the moment when Frank was puting the money in his pocket, he said:“I don`t remember that we had blue money in this country“. BLUE MONEY!!!??? What`s wrong with him? It`s obvious that the money is green and if he couldn`t see it in that scene, he could see it in the scene of poker game in the train, when Morton starts to deal 100 dollar bills instead of cards. We clearly see not just that the money is green but that there is a Lincoln picture on it. So I simply couldn`t understand what those two were watching. I mean, they aren`t some “common“ viewers. They are professionals. Directors… How can they make such mistakes and how can`t they see the obvious?

Even Sir Cristopher Fayling make one mistake. When Bronson turns in Robards to the sheriff at the auction, Frayling said “that we don`t know if the Harmonica capture him, or they working together, or something else…“ How can he say that we don`t know that? Of course that we know. Think about it a little bit. They both are against Frank, they both want to protect Jill, Robards even (practically) saved the Bronson`s life when he rescue him from the train where he was captured by the Frank and his man. Then, they together plans and starts to build the station… etc. All of that was before the auction scene. So it is obvious that they work together. Trying to stop Frank from buying McBains farm and stoping Jill from leaving the Sweet water. So what is there to be confused about. I mean, Frayling himself said that Leone wanted to leave audience to think a little bit…

So “experts“ should think a little bit about the scenes that they are watching and about the things that they are saying.

I was angry about the autor of the "commentary track" (I forgot his name) because I couldn`t understand how could he and why did he leave that commentaryes whit so much errors and recorded it to the disc. I mean, this isn`t the edition for someone who watch Leone for the first time. This is for collectors, for Leone`s fans, so he/they should know that we will notice this mistakes. Practically, their stupid comments ruined my good mood for watching it (no offence to anyone).

[Tuco the ugly]

The whole commentary track was lame. Although I have nothing but respect for John Carpenter he REALLY pissed me off a few times. Especially for the scene in the train wagon, when Frank pushes Wobbles down the train and kills him, he said something like: ''Uhm... Hmm... I think... This fella' is about to fly... It's really been a long time since I saw this...''. I mean, WTF Johnny?! When DID you see the movie for the last time?! In 1976?! Why the hell did he even came to comment there if he couldn't remember the movie?! Imagine that, they call you to do something like that, and you don't even bother to watch the movie again before you go... Fuck, if it was some other movie, rather than OUATITW, I'd be laughing my ass out still today, but since it is a Leone movie... How can someone comment something that he hasn't seen for decades?! I don't understand, I really don't... They should have picked some random guy from the street, someone who loves Leone movies, and I bet he/she could say more than JC did, and with more heart. Shit.

[Groggy]

The commentary is okay, but it doesn't add a great deal to the viewing experience if you already know a good amount to the film. Frayling and Sheldon Hall are the only two who really have anything interesting to say. Carpenter is basically drooling all over the film, Cox's observations are scatter-shot at best, John Milius and Bertolucci's "commentary" has nothing to do with anything, Cardinale's bit of commentary lasts like one minute.

[Tuco the ugly]

...John Milius and Bertolucci's "commentary" has nothing to do with anything...

I was just about to mention him. I mean, if he was the best guy that they could find to talk about Leone's OUATITW then maybe the best solution was to go on the street and pick someone randomly. I honestly don't think it could have been any worse. It would at least be funny, like in the beginning a voice announces: ''Hey suckers, we didn't have time (nor will) to search for someone better to talk about Leone, so we took this guy John Doe that doesn't know anything about what we're talking about. We know, we screwed you, but you we're gonna buy this DVD anyway, suckers. Have fun.'', I could understand that.

[Groggy]

Well see I love John Milius and then he's a great raconteur, but he didn't actually talk about the movie! His comments on his friendship with Leone would have been cool as part of the documentary but I'm not sure what purpose they served in the context of the film. Same with Bertolucci.

The commentary track for "Ryan's Daughter" is very similar, they take expanded versions of the documentary's interviews with various critics and people involved with the film and put it over the movie. It gets very annoying after awhile, particularly when they aren't discussing what's happening onscreen.

[Tuco the ugly]

Yeah, a little preparation wouldn't have killed them.

[moviesceleton]

Well see I love John Milius and then he's a great raconteur, but he didn't actually talk about the movie! His comments on his friendship with Leone would have been cool as part of the documentary but I'm not sure what purpose they served in the context of the film. Same with Bertolucci.

The commentary track for "Ryan's Daughter" is very similar, they take expanded versions of the documentary's interviews with various critics and people involved with the film and put it over the movie. It gets very annoying after awhile, particularly when they aren't discussing what's happening onscreen.

It's very annoying when they do that. If I recall right it's the same with Goodfellas and Casino DVDs.

[Bill Carson]

I totally agree with all your comments.

I was and I am very angry, disappointed and dissatisfied with the "commentary track".

[The clint]

Yes, it is annoying, but nothing in comparison to the errors made in the commentary and extras of Duck You Sucker. Now that's bad!

[kelseyradley]

Oh, sure, a little forethought wouldn't have hurt them.